Helpful Study Hints
1. Come to class every day prepared with all materials requested by your teacher.
2. Pay attention in class!
3. Participate in class! Ask questions when you are unsure of something. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
4. Write all your assignments in your assignment notebook each day. Check off each assignment when you have completed it. You are provided with time to do this and you are responsible for doing this without being asked!
5. Always complete your homework with quality of thought and presentation and on time. Use your textbooks to help you discover answers to questions/problems.
6. Use study time wisely to complete homework and get help when necessary from a family member or classmate.
7. When you go home, have a snack and then work on your homework until it is done. Put it in your backpack to return to school.
8. Make sure you have a quiet place set up at home for your homework.
9. Call a study buddy when you need help.
10. Use the tutorials, information, practice links, and homework page on this classroom website to help you. (Do not rely on the website for accurate homework information. You are responsible for keeping track of that in class. Sometimes it is not possible to update this site daily.)
11. Put a great deal of effort into your work. Exercise your brain! Your hard work will pay off!
How to Prepare for Tests -
Find the combination of strategies that will work for you!
1. Do the following steps of SQ3R with each lesson on the very same day we read it in class – Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review.
Step 1 - Look at all pictures, maps, etc. and read captions and words in bold print or high lighted.
Step 2 - Read all review questions
Step 3 – Answer the review questions
2. Reread the entire lesson that we covered in class each evening and answer the questions that we went over that day. Read the lesson yourself or follow along as someone reads the information to you.
3. Read your notes/study guide at least five times each evening. Adjust the number of times you read your notes based on your success on tests.
4. Rewrite your notes on lined paper/index cards or type them on the computer. Draw pictures after each item of information (bullet).
5. Rewrite your notes in COLOR using colored pencils
6. Draw pictures next to each bullet on your study guide. The crazier your picture, the more likely you are to remember the information. Add color to the pictures you drew. You may use colorful bubble letters to represent information.
7. Have someone read the notes to you as you read the notes silently to yourself. Do this multiple times.
8. Use mnemonics to help you remember specific information. For example, to remember the Great Lakes, remember the word HOMES. HOMES = Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior
9. You may also try singing the information to yourself and add body movements/dance as you review the information. The more you tie your senses into studying, the more likely you are to remember the information.
10. Remember - During a study period (15 minutes is reasonable), your brain remembers the most during the first few minutes and last few minutes of your study time. After you have studied 15 minutes for a test, take a five minute break. When you start again, start studying in a different place than before.
11. Have someone quiz you after you have studied your notes for a couple of days.
12. On the day of your test you should review the chapter and study guide once again in the morning.
13. Take the time to research information that will answer the essay questions completely. Double check that information for accuracy. Read the question carefully. Are you answering the question?
14. Read each question on the test carefully and multiple times. Highlight key words.
15. Use common sense to eliminate answers you know to be false and concentrate carefully on the remaining answers.
16. Always ask yourself...."Is my answer reasonable?"